a/n: hiii! i wanted to thank you all for your kind reviews on my other fics, they mean so much to me. so this is my new one and i'm quite proud of it. it'll be a chapter fic (my first one yay!). i'm planning on about 5 chapters or so. enjoy! remember to r&r!
Sometimes Beck and Jade really do think people who are meant to be together always find their way in the end. It's completely cheesy but they're starting to believe it's true.
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It's the day this years Hollywood Arts senior class has been waiting for. Everyone's supposed to be getting their acceptance letters into whatever colleges they applied to. Jade rushes home and checks her mailbox finding an envelope from both Georgetown and Tisch School of Arts at NYU (the only two she applied to despite Lane's protests). She ignores the facts that they feel pretty thick and she's excited (excitement's for losers). Instead of ripping them open right there she gets in her car and heads over to Beck's because they promised they'd open them together.
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"Ready?" Beck asks with a grin. He's holding his Tisch envelope in his hands (it was the only school they both applied to). The idea of them taking college by storm and doing what they loved was something both Beck and Jade were looking forward to. It had been both of their number one choices.
"On 3" she says gripping her envelope as they both prepare to rip them open.
"1... 2... 3..."
They both tear at the paper and pull out the letters, anxious to see what they hold for their future.
Beck's voice is the first to fill the room (fuck he's fast).
"Dear Beckett Oliver, We regret to inform you.." his voice trails off and his jaw tightens. Jade could feel her heart drop hearing those words and seeing the dejected look in his face.
She sighs heavily and swallows hard, reading her letter.
"Dear Jadelyn West, We regret to inform you.." her voice trails off as she crumbles up the paper and angrily shoves it in her bag along with the envelope.
"This is bullshit" she sneers.
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That night they celebrate Jade getting into Georgetown and Beck getting into UCLA as well as Colburn. They try not to think about the dark cloud of them being apart hanging over their heads. It's not an easy task.
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It's a week later and neither of them have spoken about it or their future apart. Neither Beck nor Jade are ready to confront that.
"Pizza and a Quentin Tarantino marathon tonight?" Beck asks as he leans against the wall and Jade goes through her locker, balancing her bag between the metal and her knee.
"Is that a serious question?" She asks, more grunts as she struggles to get her Calculus text book out of her locker (its really jammed in there).
"Thought I'd ask" he smiles at his girlfriend because if he could ever use the word adorable for her it'd be in that moment of frustration.
She gives the book one hard tug and it finally comes out, sending her body jerking back from the force and her bag falling to the ground. "Fuck" Jade mutters as the contents spill out onto the floor.
Beck bends down and starts to help Jade pick her things up. Just then Lane walks past them. He stops and turns around, heading back to the both of them.
"Hey Jade, congrats on Tisch. You're the only one who got in, great job." He says with a smile before walking off again.
Beck's brow furrows and Jade's body stiffens.
"What's he talking about?" He asks confused, he was there the day they'd gotten their letters. They both got rejected.
"All the lotion has clearly gotten to his head" she says flippantly as she reaches for the rest of her things.
Beck's hand reaches for an envelope that'd fallen on the floor. As he picks it up he sees it's the envelope from Tisch. Normally Beck never goes through Jade's things but he notices her subtly eyes widen and how quickly she reaches for it to take it from him.
"You did get rejected, right?" he asks, pulling it from her grasp.
"Of course I did" she says with a scoff, trying to snatch the envelope back.
He arches a brow and opens the envelope, taking out the papers inside. Jade's protests go ignored as he reads through them seeing papers that need to be signed for registration and orientation dates. Beck's brows knit together in a mix of confusion and realization. "Wanna explain this to me?"
Jade snatches the papers from her boyfriend. "There's nothing to explain" she says shoving them in her bag along with her Calculus book before slamming her locker shut.
"Jade, you got in and you lied about it."
"I don't wanna talk about it." She hisses before storming off and leaving Beck confused as to why she would do it.
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That afternoon Beck finds Jade sitting alone in The Black Box during lunch. She's facing the stage and snipping away at some pieces of paper. She had completely forgotten about that stupid letter and the envelope. She didn't want Beck to find out. They both desired it so bad and the last thing she wanted was to make him feel worse about not getting in. She loves him and wanted to spare his feelings because contrary to popular belief, Jade cares.
He sits beside her quietly and she doesn't say anything. She just keeps snipping away at the random papers. The silence isn't awkward or uncomfortable, it's far from it. He slips his arm around her waist and she just leans into him, resting her head on his shoulder. It's so natural for the both of them.
"Feel like talking about it?"
"Not really."
Beck sighs. "You should have told me. You know I would've been happy for you."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
She lifts her head from his shoulder and looks him in the eye. "We were supposed to go together. If you're not going, I'm not going."
He shakes his head, pulling her closer by the waist. "No, you're going. You always wanted to go there, I won't let you throw that away just because I didn't get in."
"Beck, I'm not going." She says, her mind made up.
"Even at Georgetown, we'll still be apart."
She pouts because honestly hadn't thought about that. After a moment of silence she finally speaks up, "I'll apply for UCLA's winter semester, problem solved."
A small chuckle escapes from his lips, "You're going to Tisch even if I have to sign the papers myself."
She shakes her head and rests it on his shoulder again. "No, I'm not."
He kisses the top of her head, smiling against her hair because really he couldn't be more proud of her for this major accomplishment.
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Despite her protests she does fill out her paperwork and registers for Tisch. From the moment everything's sent it almost feels like a count down to the day they'll separate. Jade doesn't like the feeling and neither does Beck so they try not to look at it that way.
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They spend the rest of their senior year like any other couple. He takes her to prom and even if she complains most of the night she actually has fun. They dance and she smiles which she rarely does in front of people (Beck can't help but think how beautiful she is). She doesn't even make a comment about how cliché it is to get a hotel room on prom night, which Beck is fully expecting.
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On their last day of school they get their yearbooks Beck is the first one to sign Jade's.
Jade,
You are the best thing to happen to me. My life wouldn't be the same without you. When you make it big and famous and your name is shining in bright lights, I'm going to be right there next to you. Never forget that.
I love you.
-Beck
Beck swears he can see her blush right before she snatches his yearbook from him and walks off muttering something about how much of an asshole he is because now hers isn't good enough.
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On their graduation night they get matching tattoos to celebrate. He gets a star to signify the star she's going to be. She gets the comedy/tragedy faces for him because he loves Shakespeare more than anyone she knows.
Afterward they go to Tori's graduation party. The whole senior class is there, even Sikowitz with a coconut glued to his hand.
They drink and dance. Jade does karaoke with André and Cat. Even once with Tori. Robbie gets so drunk he passes out in the bathtub after announcing to the whole party he's not a virgin anymore, making Cat blush as red as her hair. André and Tori sneak off together before the night is over.
It's the best way to end 4 years worth of memories.
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They spend every second of their summer together. They know they won't have this chance when they're on separate coasts so they take full advantage of it.
When Beck's family invites him to Hawaii, he tells them 'If you don't want Jade there, you don't want me either'. His father doesn't approve but Beck could care less because it's their summer and a trip to Hawaii isn't going to make him go anywhere without her.
The days and nights blur together into one big memory of parties, concerts, the beach, friends, movies, and sex. Before they know it it's time for her to start packing to leave.
He helps her, they don't talk the entire time.
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The gang has one last dinner together because as Cat put it when she arranged it 'everyone's going to be scattered everywhere soon and it makes her sad'.
Tori's been recruited by Hollywood Records and is going to be groomed to be their next big star.
André's staying put in California, going into Colburn's music program to perfect his craft though everyone thinks there's no need because he's already there.
Cat and Robbie are going to Penn State together. Robbie for creative writing and Cat for their Arts program.
They have a barbecue on the beach and Tori and André sing one last duet for their friends before everyone goes their separate ways. The 6 friends make a promise around a bonfire to keep in touch and not drift apart or forget each other if they do.
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Beck's truck is parked high above the city of Los Angeles by the Hollywood sign, looking up at the stars. They're not shining bright because of the smog of the city but no one's complaining. She lays with her head on his chest and body curled against him on a blanket in the bed of his truck. An arm is wrapped protectively around her waist, keeping her close as his hand is linked with hers across his torso. He links and unlinks their fingers as they stare at the night sky.
It's the night before she's set to leave. The air is filled with a mix of the music coming from his pearpod in the cab of the truck and the sound of the crickets chirping; all coming together to effectively drown out the topic they don't want to talk about lingering above their heads. It's dark save for the lights from the sign and the fireflies around them. Jade's listening to the steady thumpthumpthumping of her boyfriends heart and the sound of his breathing.
Moments like these are what she loves most, being in his arms and them being them. No complications. No drama. No bullshit. Just them being together. She feels lucky that this summer has been all about these moments (most of the year actually). She couldn't have asked for anything better.
The cool night breeze blows around them and Jade pulls the flannel shirt she was wearing courtesy of her boyfriend tighter around herself. She notes the sharp inhale he takes as his hand rubs her waist.
"Where do you see yourself in the future?" he asks almost wistfully.
She looks up at him with a curious smile, wondering where that came from. "Why are you so curious?" she wonders.
"Just humor me" he says as he brings their hands to his lips and places a gentle kiss on her knuckles making a small smile present itself on her lips.
So she humors him as she looks back at the dimly lit stars in the sky, a part of her wishing they were farther from the city so she could see them really shine.
"Well, I see myself acting on Broadway first and when I've conquered that I'd like to come back to Hollywood and work on the big screen." A beat of silence passes. "I'd want to direct and write too."
She's staring at the brightest star in the sky which she concludes is the North Star. She fixates on that point listening to his breathing and she can tell he's thinking, most likely about her future or his. Jade makes a mental note to just look at the North Star if she feels like she's ever losing her way because it's supposed to guide people home after all.
"Where do you see yourself in the future?" she asks, now curious.
He unlinks their hands and curls his fingers under chin, tilting her head to look into her piercing blue eyes.
"With you."
Jade's lips turn into an undeniable grin and Beck swears he can see the faint blush on her skin in the soft light their surroundings provide.
"You're such a dork" she breathes against his lips as he dips his head to kiss her. It's soft and tender. When he pulls away he whispers "I love you." It rings so loud in her ears. They've said it more than once (he's said it more than she has but that's a minor detail) but it doesn't mean her heart doesn't swell with joy each time it happens. It's disgusting really.
Jade West doesn't do romance but there's an exception to everything. Beck Oliver just so happens to be hers.
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They make love under the stars that night. Their bodies moving together in a beautiful rhythm as they become one. It's a beautiful symphony as their hearts beat in tune with each others making a melody to a song that sounds better than anything that anyone could ever write. They fall asleep in each others arms, the night sky providing the perfect backdrop to the best ending of the summer either of them could ever ask for. It's completely cheesy and cliché but she can live with that.
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His arms are wrapped around her and her head is nestled into the crook of his neck as they stand in front of her terminal. Everyone's bustling around them but they remain still as if stopped by time.
"I don't want to go" she murmurs against his skin.
'"I don't want you to" he sighs.
"Then I won't."
He shakes his head. "You have to and you will."
Her presses his hands against the small of her back. He doesn't want to let her go but he has to so she can be the woman she's destined to be.
She shifts in his arms, pulling back with sadness in her eyes. "Is this the part where we break up?"
He shakes his head, giving her a curious look. "What gives you that idea?"
"We'll be on different coasts and long distance never works, you know that Beck" she says with a small sigh. This had been bothering her since the day she got her letter and knew Beck wasn't going to be with her. She doesn't want them to end up in a relationship where she's worried about what he's doing 24/7 and he's doing the same. Her jealousy is already out of hand, she doesn't even want to imagine what it's going to be like when they're apart. It isn't fair to either to them.
He slides his hands up her sides and to her cheeks, cupping her face in his hands. He kisses her deeply, stopping any doubts she has playing on a loop in her mind. When they break for air, Beck presses his forehead against hers, tips of their noses touching.
"We'll make this work, I promise."
'Now boarding all passengers for flight 246 to New York City.'
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